Hi all, it has been a busy week as crutches are introduced into therapy. When I get released and move home I will need to be able to navigate steps, which requires crutches. So this week I have been learning/practicing how to get around on crutches. I am a long way from confident or adept on them but I haven't had a yip moment the past two days. For those wondering, a yip moment is when you involuntarily yip as you momentarily lose balance, startle yourself and regain your balance with the help of those around you. I have gained a deep appreciation for gait belts during this week, they have kept me upright more than once.
The past two days have introduced jumping up onto blocks while using parallel bars. We started with two inches and progressed quickly to 4" and 6". Today was an 8" block and I would just like to say that that is a big jump one-legged. I am certain that once my left leg is a bit less swollen and more flexible this jumping will likely be a bit easier. Nor will I be spending part of my attention on how to keep it out of the way. We did try actual four inch steps early on, and I was very thankful for the multiple helpers as they kept me from pitching forward when my foot didn't quite clear a step on the down.
As my therapists work to increase my standing time we have been doing many things. One of the more enjoyable is playing the board game Sequence. I have also heated a "meal" in the microwave, "eaten" it and cleaned up afterwards. I have also folded laundry, done item retrieval in the kitchen area and some other items all designed to increase my single leg stamina. Who knows, perhaps when this is over I'll be able to hop buildings with the right leg.
Well, that's it for now, hope everyone has had a good week.
Leslie at Rehab
Enough with the brace! Here's mah Kitteh!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Kitty visits and other things
Happy coincidence, we came to visit Leslie at the same time as the famous Guy (her familiar, companion and cat) I had never met him before, what a great personality! Although he is trying to make a break for it, between sniffing around the room and seeing Mama for the first time in 2 months, leaping up on the funny crank up bed, and generally charming all who he encounters, we did discover the door here doesn't actually latch, so all you late night visitors to Leslie, take note. Well, Guy has an ingrown toenail and is going to the vet tomorrow. More on Leslie now. She is out of the immobilizing brace and sporting quite the gnarly, bodacious scar thanks to those three surgeries (full disclosure - it was there all along, but we could not see it before), but moving, a little walking, solo trips to the john (now *that's* freedom)...
She enjoyed an excellent weekend with her gaming friends and in the knowledge that her house was enjoying a work party under the firm if reticent guidance of brother Keith - I hear I'm mistaken, and he was downright loquacious! But, we have also discovered the first need for the money that you all have so generously donated (looking at about $4700 so far!), besides transportation for Leslie, transportation for goods and materials to her house to get it ready for her to move back into is all being handled by Keith's (overtaxed) truck, it needs some work, so that's the first chunk, looks like about $1500 will get it back on all four wheels...
So, we switched widgets and are looking for donation testers, if you've been thinking you would but haven't until now, now is the time to see if the switch we made worked. You shouldn't notice any difference, but your donation goes directly to Leslie, I am no longer the middleman (and just in time, that ticket to Barbados was looking pretty good...)
Anyway, it's a long post. keep the love and attention coming.
Penelope
She enjoyed an excellent weekend with her gaming friends and in the knowledge that her house was enjoying a work party under the firm if reticent guidance of brother Keith - I hear I'm mistaken, and he was downright loquacious! But, we have also discovered the first need for the money that you all have so generously donated (looking at about $4700 so far!), besides transportation for Leslie, transportation for goods and materials to her house to get it ready for her to move back into is all being handled by Keith's (overtaxed) truck, it needs some work, so that's the first chunk, looks like about $1500 will get it back on all four wheels...
So, we switched widgets and are looking for donation testers, if you've been thinking you would but haven't until now, now is the time to see if the switch we made worked. You shouldn't notice any difference, but your donation goes directly to Leslie, I am no longer the middleman (and just in time, that ticket to Barbados was looking pretty good...)
Anyway, it's a long post. keep the love and attention coming.
Penelope
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Sunday and Sleep
Took a day off from therapy and did some client work, some house cleaning, and some sleeping. Looking forward to Guy coming to visit tomorrow evening for a couple of hours.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Thursday andThings that go bump
As the days go by and I realize how far I have come, and how much further I have yet to go, I dream of designs for a tattoo for the knee. To avoid the appearance of a giant millipede crawling up my leg - or enhance it?
Family and staff had a care conference today to go over what has been going on, introduce all the parties, get questions answered and concerns addressed. My stay at Glade Valley has been approved through March 15th, so BlueCross must feel I am making sufficient progress to justify the stay, and am not yet ready to be released without the very real risk of further injury. I heartily concur with this assessment, We did find out that the best we can hope for is a few days notice for a release date, that it is not unheard of for 24 hours notice. The OT staff here is interested in doing a home visit, but want to wait till they feel confidant I can do stairs.
Today I walked on crutches twice, both times for 30 feet. I say walked but this is not the free swinging move you may have seen others use. This is the "move the crutches out a bit and hop the leg out to them" move. I'm just not certain enough of my balance and strength yet to go further. We also worked on range of motion of the knee - whew, that took it out of me. I'm sure there is a lot of scar tissue in there to break up, and some very stiff muscles.
I have bumped the leg a few times and been reminded of just what I'm dealing with.
Keith has been working on the house quite a bit, and with Felicia, Paul and Cam's help this past weekend got quite a bit accomplished. He is planning to work on it this weekend as well as he is concerned that it be ready to move in when I get released. If you are interested in helping out please let him know. He is the first to admit that he does poorly at coordinating a lot of folks with a lot of work, so if you have specific skills you would like to offer that would be helpful information for him. keithwins@gmail.com
I am working although it goes more slowly than I had thought it would. This is due in part to computer glitches, and in part to body hitches. I am learning that when it comes to therapy you can really wear yourself out in just an hour. I had thought that while I might have a sore muscle I would still be able to work. This is not always true I have discovered. There are times when the best I can do is try to find a position where the ice pack stays where needed while the pain eases. I keep plugging along though.
Some folks will be coming out this Saturday to Walkersville to play board games starting around 1pm and continuing till somewhere around 9pm. It's nice to get some mental stimulation and a slew of visitors as well. Any and all are welcome.
Well, I think that's it for the updates. Hope you all are well and enjoying the adventure you are on.
Family and staff had a care conference today to go over what has been going on, introduce all the parties, get questions answered and concerns addressed. My stay at Glade Valley has been approved through March 15th, so BlueCross must feel I am making sufficient progress to justify the stay, and am not yet ready to be released without the very real risk of further injury. I heartily concur with this assessment, We did find out that the best we can hope for is a few days notice for a release date, that it is not unheard of for 24 hours notice. The OT staff here is interested in doing a home visit, but want to wait till they feel confidant I can do stairs.
Today I walked on crutches twice, both times for 30 feet. I say walked but this is not the free swinging move you may have seen others use. This is the "move the crutches out a bit and hop the leg out to them" move. I'm just not certain enough of my balance and strength yet to go further. We also worked on range of motion of the knee - whew, that took it out of me. I'm sure there is a lot of scar tissue in there to break up, and some very stiff muscles.
I have bumped the leg a few times and been reminded of just what I'm dealing with.
Keith has been working on the house quite a bit, and with Felicia, Paul and Cam's help this past weekend got quite a bit accomplished. He is planning to work on it this weekend as well as he is concerned that it be ready to move in when I get released. If you are interested in helping out please let him know. He is the first to admit that he does poorly at coordinating a lot of folks with a lot of work, so if you have specific skills you would like to offer that would be helpful information for him. keithwins@gmail.com
I am working although it goes more slowly than I had thought it would. This is due in part to computer glitches, and in part to body hitches. I am learning that when it comes to therapy you can really wear yourself out in just an hour. I had thought that while I might have a sore muscle I would still be able to work. This is not always true I have discovered. There are times when the best I can do is try to find a position where the ice pack stays where needed while the pain eases. I keep plugging along though.
Some folks will be coming out this Saturday to Walkersville to play board games starting around 1pm and continuing till somewhere around 9pm. It's nice to get some mental stimulation and a slew of visitors as well. Any and all are welcome.
Well, I think that's it for the updates. Hope you all are well and enjoying the adventure you are on.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Update
Wow, tried crutches today - bit unsteady (OK, really unsteady when stepping). Sure not ready to depend upon them.
Shirt Found!!!
The dance shirt was found! It had fallen out of laundry bag in closet. Not sure how it happened, but it's been found. Yay!!!! And I am reminded to not make assumptions about anything!
Monday, March 5, 2012
More Monday Musings
Today started with some heavy therapy, an hour of weights and endurance for the arms and shoulders. This was followed very quickly by PT having me use the walker to walk from near my room to the therapy room. Seems like I might be developing tendonitis in the right shoulder. Thankfully tomorrow has short therapy sessions separated by hours. Ah well, I'll keep plugging along. The leg and the arms are getting stronger, but I expect to be here for another month at least.
My sister, nephew, and her boyfriend were down to help Keith work on the house. Her report indicates a lot of work needs to be done before the house will be ready for me. Keith is working hard but as with many home projects you seem to take two steps backward for any planned step forward. It is also an old house so each bit of work takes 2 to 3 times longer than you would anticipate. So it's a good thing that I'll be here for a bit.
One bit of sad news is the disappearance of the dance tank Penelope gave me. I have a friend who has offered to do my laundry from hereon to prevent further disappearances. I suspect the shirt ended up going home with someone as it would be rather obvious if worn here that it was my shirt.
Happy notes - found out that we have access to a microwave. So, once we get the popcorn my roomie and I can have a night at the movies. We watched Alice in Wonderland (new version) last night which started the round of questions and plans. They have some big screen TV's here, perhaps we'll get around to organizing a night at the movies for a number of folks. See what we can get away with. :-)
Hope all is going well out there. Saw posts on some great dancing over this past weekend, as well as some great gaming. I know lots of my friends had some good times relaxing. I look forward to joining in later this year.
My sister, nephew, and her boyfriend were down to help Keith work on the house. Her report indicates a lot of work needs to be done before the house will be ready for me. Keith is working hard but as with many home projects you seem to take two steps backward for any planned step forward. It is also an old house so each bit of work takes 2 to 3 times longer than you would anticipate. So it's a good thing that I'll be here for a bit.
One bit of sad news is the disappearance of the dance tank Penelope gave me. I have a friend who has offered to do my laundry from hereon to prevent further disappearances. I suspect the shirt ended up going home with someone as it would be rather obvious if worn here that it was my shirt.
Happy notes - found out that we have access to a microwave. So, once we get the popcorn my roomie and I can have a night at the movies. We watched Alice in Wonderland (new version) last night which started the round of questions and plans. They have some big screen TV's here, perhaps we'll get around to organizing a night at the movies for a number of folks. See what we can get away with. :-)
Hope all is going well out there. Saw posts on some great dancing over this past weekend, as well as some great gaming. I know lots of my friends had some good times relaxing. I look forward to joining in later this year.
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